KEVIN PEEL FROM TYNE & WEAR CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD BOY AT SUNDERLAND SKI SLOPE BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In April 2018, a serious incident involving Kevin Peel, a paramedic and volunteer nurse from Tyne & Wear, came to light after he was caught attempting to meet a teenage boy he believed to be 14 years old. The incident was orchestrated by vigilant online paedophile hunters, Guardians of the North, who set up a fake profile on the popular dating app Grindr to expose his intentions.

Kevin Peel engaged in conversations with the fake profile, which he thought belonged to a young boy. During these exchanges, Peel sent explicit messages, including an offer to perform a sexual act on the boy, despite being informed that the individual was only 14 years old and had never engaged in such activities before. Peel also shared a photograph of himself dressed in underwear and invited the boy to visit his house, actions that raised serious concerns about his conduct.

The situation escalated when Peel arranged to meet 'Ryan' at Sunderland Ski Slope in September 2016. However, upon arriving at the designated location, Peel was confronted by members of Guardians of the North, who detained him, called the police, and recorded the entire encounter. The group’s intervention prevented any potential harm and brought the matter to the attention of law enforcement authorities.

Following his arrest, Peel was cautioned and taken into custody on suspicion of online grooming. The police investigation, however, concluded without further legal action against him. Despite this, the incident prompted disciplinary proceedings by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The NMC held a hearing to examine Peel’s conduct, during which it was revealed that he had been using Grindr, an adult-only same-sex dating app, on September 3, 2016, when he initiated contact with the fake profile. The conversation quickly turned inappropriate, with Peel expressing interest in engaging with someone his own age, and later, explicitly offering to perform sexual acts. The dialogue included Peel sending a provocative photograph of himself and discussing the possibility of meeting up.

During the hearing, it was disclosed that Peel had planned to meet 'Ryan' at Sunderland Ski Slope, and he confirmed that he had agreed to the meeting. When Peel arrived at the location, he was confronted by the vigilante group and subsequently arrested. The panel noted discrepancies in Peel’s statements regarding his certainty about the age of the individual he believed he was communicating with. Initially, Peel admitted to making risqué comments and expressed shame over his actions, especially considering the minor’s age. However, in a later statement, he claimed he thought the profile might belong to an adult, as the site required users to be 18 or older.

At the hearing, Peel maintained that he had only skimmed the message from 'Ryan,' which stated, “I don’t know I’m 14 so never done anything before,” and that he intended to offer advice and support about sexuality if the individual was indeed a minor. The panel, however, found no evidence to support the claim that Peel’s intentions were to provide guidance or mentorship. Instead, his actions were deemed inappropriate and concerning.

It was also noted that Peel had not been employed as a nurse or paramedic since the incident in September 2016. The NMC concluded that his misconduct was an isolated incident in a career spanning over ten years, during which he maintained an otherwise unblemished record. As a result, the panel decided against striking him off the register but imposed a twelve-month suspension from nursing practice.

The panel’s ruling acknowledged that Peel did not use Grindr explicitly to seek sexual activity with minors. Nonetheless, they emphasized that he failed to remove himself from the situation when it became apparent that the individual might be underage. The decision highlighted that, although the misconduct was sexual in nature, no actual harm was caused, and Peel did not abuse his professional trust during the online exchanges.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Services stated, “Allegations regarding this former employee came to our attention and we took appropriate disciplinary action, following an investigation, which is in line with our internal procedures. The matter was also referred to the professional bodies, HCPC and NMC. Whilst the allegations concerned did not affect any of our patients, the safety and welfare of our patients must always be our priority.”